definitions Flashcards
copies the genetic instructions from DNA in the nucleus, and carries the instructions to the cytoplasm.
mRNA
Helps form ribosomes, the organelle where proteins are assembled.
rRNA
Brings amino acids to ribosome, where they are joined together to form proteins.
tRNA
The addition of nucleotides to the growing mRNA strand.
Elongation
The beginning of transcription occurs when mRNA polymerase binds to the promoter of a gene
Initiation
Ending of transcription and occurs when RNA polymerase crosses as stop sequence in the gene.
Termination
Group of three nitrogen bases in RNA or DNA that is the genetic code word for a single amino acid or for a star or stop signal
Codons
The three-base frame that divides the base into codon
Reading frame
Structure found in all cells that is the site of protein synthesis
Ribosome
Nonliving aspect of the enviroment such as sunlight and water
Abiotic factors
Are the living aspects of the environment. They consist of other organisms, including members of the same and different species.
Biotic factors
Two species within the same area coexist and adapt by developing different specializations
Character displacement
Is a relationship between two species, or individuals of the same species that strive the same resources in the same place
Competition
Is an organism that must eat or consume other organisms to optain energy and nutrients.
Consumer
Branch of biology that is the study of how living things interact with each other and with their environment
Ecology
Role that a particular species plays in the ecosystem, including all the ways that the species interacts with the biotic and abiotic factors in the ecosystem
Niche
All the organisms of the same species that live in the same area
Population
Type of organism that uses light energy or chemical energy to make food for itself and others.
Producers
Aquatic biome such as pond, lake, stream or river in which the water contains little or no salt.
Freshwater biome
Predator species that plays a special role in its community because changes in its population affect the populations of many other species in the community
Keystone species
Interaction between two organisms of unlike species: one organism acts as predator that captures and feeds on the other organism wich is the prey
Predator-prey relationship
A situation in which a species completely dies out and no members remain
Extinction
The relationship between organisms between different species that strive for the same resources in the same place
Interspecific relationship
The relationship between organism of the same species that strive for the same resources in the same place
Intrapecific relationship
Close relationship between two species in which at least one specie benefits
Symbiosis
Type of species that first colonized a disturbed area
Pioneer species
Change in the numbers and types of species that live in a community that occurs in an area that has never before been colonized by organisms and lacks soil.
Primary succession
Change in the numbers and types of species that live in a community that occurs in an area that has soil and was previously colonized but has been disturbed
Secondary succession
Bar graph that represents the number of individuals of each sex and age in a population
Population pyramid
Movement of individuals out of a population
Emigration
Movement of individuals into a population
Immigration
Regular movement of individuals or population each year during certain seasons, usually to find food, mates or resources
Migration
Organism that makes its own food
Autotrophs
Type of organism that obtains food by breaking down the remains of dead organisms or other organic wastes into its various organic wastes into its various components including nutrients that can be used by other organisms
Decomposers
Organism that can get food by consuming other organism
Heterotrophs
Type of decomposer that consume dead animals.
Scavengers
All the living things in a given area together with the physical and chemical factors of the nonliving enviroment
Ecosystem
Total mass of organisms at a given trophic level in a food chain or web.
Biomass
An organism’s feeding position in a food chain
Trophic level
The evaporation that occurs from the land surface along with transpiration
Evapotranspiration
Release of water vapor into the atmosphere from stomata in the leaves of plants
Transpiration